_Nymphomania._――The most deplorable condition of all, to which the female is subject, is the uncontrollable, maniacal, erotic desire, called nymphomania. The disease is fortunately rare, and commonly makes its appearance at, or soon after puberty, but has been observed in adult and married women. Of the six cases that have come under my observation, one was a married woman, the mother of children, four were girls at puberty and one, which will be hereafter reported, aged 19 years.
In the commencement the sufferer is a prey to perpetual contest between feelings of modesty and impetuous desires. At an after period she abandons herself to the latter, seeking no longer to restrain them. In the last stage the obscenity is disgusting; and the mental alienation, for such it is, becomes complete. The cause is often obscure, but when known has been undue irritation, by titilation of the genitals, or anything that would cause turgescence. The disease is apparently local in the beginning, but seems to affect the entire nervous organization, through reflex excitation.
The clitoris, by some, is supposed to be the seat of irritation, and has been amputated or cauterized, but without generally effecting any relief. The disease is not generally confined to any particular locality of the genitals. If allowed, the patient will take the hand of the male and place it upon the _mons veneris_, and it is only by force that she will allow it to be taken away. She cannot locate the seat of pleasure, but will say that the entire surface touched contributes to the venereal excitement. Another peculiar feature is, that she obtains no satisfaction from venereal orgasm; but on the contrary it adds to her maniacal conduct and obscenity. She is not in any manner responsible for her conduct, and no punishment will cause her to desist. Everything is sacrificed that is feminine, for that which is disgusting and vulgar. The more modest she has been in health, the more obscene she is likely to become in her venereal frenzy. What the final result would be, without treatment, I have never witnessed, but must conclude that lunacy would soon be prominent and probably suicide. There is no tendency to recovery, but to continue from bad to worse, until publicity is no restraint to the obscenity and indecent conduct of the victim.